Wednesday, September 12, 2007

simple, thrifty pleasures

I have just discovered a great site (I'm sure you will want to check it out!!) "Motherload: The Mom Advice Blog", where Amy has nominated me for the Frugal Subversive Award. Amy has some great tips and ideas, and I can't wait to read through her archives!
Yesterday, before I heard from Amy, I actually had thrift and simple pleasures on my mind. I had cut some late summer roses from my bushes and placed them in my ($1 garage sale) tureen. I set them on my ($5 yard sale) table in the sunroom near the ($3 yard sale) cement urn, along with a found nest, a (library sale) book, and (flea market) silver candlestick.
Looking at it made me happy ~ thriftiness can be beautiful!

Sitting down to dinner ~ Shepherd's Pie & a garden salad ~ I thought how good it was, how a little rosemary, garlic, and onion could turn ground meat & potatoes into something so tasty.

Thriftiness can be delicious.

Shepherd's Pie

  • 1 tbsp olive & 1 tbsp butter
  • 1 large clove garlic, minced
  • 1 medium onion, chopped
  • 1 pound ground meat
  • 1 tsp rosemary
  • 2 tbsp butter
  • 2 tbsp flour
  • 3/4 c. beef broth (or water)
  • salt to taste
  • freshly ground pepper
  • potatoes~mashed with some cream cheese or sour cream
  • grated cheddar cheese

Preheat oven to 375 degrees. In skillet heat olive oil & butter. Cook onions & garlic. Add meat & rosemary and cook til browned. Remove from pan and drain fat. Melt 2 tbsp butter in pan and stir in flour. Cook until smooth and blended, then add broth. Stir and cook until thickened; cooking at least five minutes. Add meat mixture; stir, add salt & pepper. Spoon into a 1 1/2 or 2 quart casserole. Cover evenly with mashed potatoes. Bake 35 minutes ~ during last 5 minutes top with grated cheese.

And, if you are needing any sewing patterns JoAnn Fabrics has Butterick patterns for 1.99 this week. I don't plan on getting to this for awhile, but was happy to be able to pick it up while on sale.

36 comments:

  1. Anonymous11:52 AM

    You INSPIRE ME Deb!!!!!!!! Our family is not living in our own home right now due to my husband being very ill this past year....but, coming to your blog and the select others I go too.....it helps me to keep a cheerful heart. I dream of all the "projects" I will do once we get our life back on track.

    I just wanted to thank you for all your beautiful pictures you post. They are worth a thousand words.

    C.A. Worcester

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  2. The Shepherd's Pie sounds delicious! I'm saving the recipe :-)

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  3. Oh, I love simple, thrifty treasures. Yours are wonderful and I love to see what you have to share. Thank you for being an inspiration to me. ~Adrienne~

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  4. Your grouping looks great@ I love the tureen!

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  5. Hi Deb, what a great post and what great finds! I was just today realizing that I had posted a picture on my blog that was entirely garage sale items! Everything in the tea picture was thrifted and you could even say that the house was thrifted, it was found by my husbands aunt when she went to a garage sale (26 years ago) there and was told the house was for sale. She called us and we bought it.LOL I am a big believer in a great deal so I will be checking the website you recommend. Thanks for the suggestion:>)

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  6. One dollar for a red transferware tureen? No way! There's a nip in the air today and your shepherd's pie sounds good--comfort food.

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  7. I love to visit your blog. You always have the most beatiful pictures and the greatest ideas.

    That recipe sounds wonderful - my mother wants me to make Shepherd's Pie, but I couldn't find a suitable recipe. I will try yours.

    Also - love the pattern. I'll be stopping by JoAnn tomorrow - it was already on my list!

    Oh, and congrats on your award.

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  8. Deb, your pictures and little vignettes are just so gorgeous & your blog is such a peaceful spot to visit! Congratulations on your latest award. Love all your thrift finds!

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  9. Debbie, his is truly a lovely post, in more ways than one. Thank you.
    Your vignette is lovely. I love taking simple and thrifted things and creating a home or crafting with them. There is something so much more satifying about using what I have, or what already exists to me. I confess to being very tired of all the consumption that I see in the world. You always provide a lovely respite from that here.
    I love Shepherds pie, and use an old Victoria magazine recipe. I'm going to give yours a try!

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  10. I thrive on thriftiness. I get a high when people find out what I spent on some redecorating project and squeel, "Oh my gosh...you did not!". It's what keeps me going.

    I love your shrine to thriftiness and might have to make one for myself.

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  11. I love the roses arrangement--so feminine and heart warming.

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  12. I so agree. The simple things are the most beautiful things. Your arrangement is lovely. Red transferware is a favorite of mine and your soup tureen is stunning with your roses.

    Have a wonderful weekend.

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  13. I think it's wonderful to create a beautiful home while simultaneously being smart about it financially. Congratulations on your award.

    Shepherd's Pie is one of my favorite things to make--it has become one of my comfort foods.

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  14. Anonymous6:15 AM

    The tureen looks beautiful with the roses! And congrats on the award.

    Manuela

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  15. Anonymous9:40 AM

    .....ok. you took my breath away! That photo of the soft pink and white roses are amazing! I love it all! And thanks for sharing your Shepherd's Pie recipe!

    btw...thanks for your email help. It was very helpful!;- )

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  16. What a beautiful display! I love it that everything is thrift sale or special find. I can look around my house and point to things and say, garage sale, thrift store, gift, garage sale, etc. it would probably be easier to point out things that were purchased at a regular store because there are very few items! Love you blog!

    Take care, Sharon

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  17. Thank you so much for the link back- I was not expecting that. I just love your blog so much and your pictures truly inspire me! You really deserved the award!

    That picture is BEAUTIFUL and the recipe sounds delicious!!

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  18. Anonymous12:36 PM

    Deb - Your "thrifted" vignette is beautiful! I love the red transferware tureen with the roses most especially.

    I like the sound of your Shepher's Pie recipe. It's much more wholesome sounding than the one I use. I'll be giving yours a try soon.

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  19. These are my favorite kinds of posts because I sometimes need to be reminded that I don't have to spend an arm and a leg to have a little beauty in my home and/or life.

    Thank you!

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  20. Anonymous6:56 PM

    Oh that is the most gorgeous tureen and your roses are just perfect in it! That price...wow! Your pictures are just lovely!

    I am going to try your Shepherd's Pie recipe as I have been told mine is too veggie for my crew. Sounds yummy!

    I have been visiting for a bit off and on but thought it was time I said Hi! and thank you for sharing! Hollyhock Cottage

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  21. You are a lady after my own heart...there are some lovely treasures out there if we all just take the time to look for them. Yours are just beautiful...love that soup tureen!

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  22. You ARE the Queen of Thrift and Beauty!
    ~Jody

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  23. Anonymous1:53 PM

    I am sooo thrilled to see that pattern. It is very similiar to a jumper I love over at the Spiegel website. I've been wanting to make my own knock-off but couldn't find a pattern that was similar enough. Not sure how I missed that one in my searchings, but it should work. Hope you don't mind if I make it up in gray wool flannel???? I don't think we'd be bumping into each other up here in Alaska anytime soon? :)

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  24. Anonymous3:15 PM

    Congratulations on your award, Deb! You truly are an inspiration. I'm coveting that tureen! Oh, and the pattern is lovely too ... I think I might buy that one. ~ Lynda ♥

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  25. How wonderful isn`t it? I mean, so many beautiful treasures for almost nothing!! The Tureen is just amazing!! The pattern is So pretty! You are so good in making pretty displays :)It look so Chic, inspiring!
    Well Deb, i have made a start on the tote bag, but i have to dissapoint you a little bit. I have not finnished it yet, and it looks like i have had enough trie for a few days. Well, i shouldn`t have expected it to go too smoothly the first time :) I should have taken a sewing-course really. Most of the times i make it all to difficult for myself. I am not that good at reading tutorials or recipies at all. But i am learning,but i am not giving up though.. Today i was able to make stem and outline stiches for the first time! Yes! Yesterday i made a redwork embroidery, but i used Back Stitches. I did not knew that you normally use the fist stiches that i mentioned for Redwork. Well, i will make another one, then with the right stiches. It is so fun to finally be able to do and achieve what i have wanted to.. it is the greatest feeling ever! Loved your new dishclothes, want to make those too :) Yes, the projects list is just going on and on and on...I hope the week will be a good one Deb, see you soon, hug (",)

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  26. How beautiful is your find... I just love toile and this is so pretty. Thank you for the Shepherd Pie recipe..

    Have a lovely week...

    Beverly

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  27. Love your treasures...what great deals you found...I need to get myself up and going and try to find some great deals...thanks for sharing...also, that pattern looks like a fun thing to make...I'm sure whatever you decide to make with it...will be fantastic....also, loved the shepards pie recipe...thanks for sharing that,too...

    blessings...
    "T"

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  28. Love your simple pleasures arrangement, and also love shepherd's pie!
    And wanted to mention that our Hobby Lobby had McCalls patterns for 99 cents this past Saturday. not sure how long the sale will last though.

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  29. The flowers are beautiful and your shepherd's pie sounds delicious!

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  30. What a lovely vignette! And the tureen was only a dollar?! Holy moly! What a deal!

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  31. Gorgeous -- I absolutely love your blog. :)

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  32. Thank you for the lovely recipe for the Shepherd´s Pie. I made it for dinner tonight, and it was a great succes in our house. I will defenitely make it frequently as it was so tasty, real comfort food for chilly autumn evenings.

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  33. I love this pink tureen! I never thought I would return to pink, but my kitchen has sort of segued into pink and I'm loving it! What a find! And, the bouquet works beautifully!

    Blessings, KJ

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  34. Hi there, I am a long time reader of your blog, but I don't regularly leave comments. This time had to be an exception because I tried this recipe last night for my family. I had never made Shepherd's Pie, or eaten it for that matter, lol! Well, I just wanted to let you know that it was SO VERY TASTY!! It as great on the budget and on the plate. Thanks so much for the great receipt and opportunity to make a pleasing meal on a tight budget.
    <><
    Cassandra

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  35. but, coming to your blog and the select others

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  36. Lovecorgi Kay5:44 AM

    Fun blog. I think I'll try Shepherd's Pie

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Thank you for taking time to leave a comment--I love reading each and every one! I will try to answer any questions you have in the comment section. Due to the amount of spam, I am sadly no longer able to accept Anonymous comments....Kindly, Deb

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